President Buhari Commissions National Housing Project in Gusau, Zamfara State President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned  a 80 housing units in Damba, Gusau, Zamfara state, Monday,  May 22nd, 2023. The President was represented at the occassion by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sa'adia Umar Faruk. He described the completion of the project as an example of the fulfilment of change which his administration promised the people of Nigeria.  Buhari also explained that the desire to improve the human condition of the citizens was responsible for the decision to award the housing contracts to the Micro, Small and Medium size businesses, in order to promote a value chain of opportunities for economic activities, provide employment and improve the conditions of the ordinary citizen. Accordingly, the President stated that through the housing programme his administration has redeemed the promise made by previous administration to the members of the 1994 Super Eagles that won the African Cup of Nations that year.  The Governor of Zamfara State, Dr  Bello  Matawalle  who was represented by the Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Honourable Nasiru Muazu Magarya, expressed gratitude to President Buhari for initiating and executing the housing project in Zamfara state.  In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, represented by the Director Construction, Department of Public Building and Housing Development,  Architect Bashir Usman disclosed that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had delivered similar projects in 35 states of the Federation with the support of state governors. The Minister said that 40 housing units comprising; 2 units of 1 bedroom; 24 units of 2 bedrooms and 14 units of 3 bedroom bungalows were being handed over today, pointing out that the houses were designed after a survey was conducted to ascertain the needs and  type of houses Nigerians desired.  Accordingly, he explained that the survey revealed that there was a prevalent need for bungalows in the Northern part and flats in the southern part of Nigeria. In his welcome address, the Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Folorunso Esan who was represented by the Zonal Director of North West, National Housing Programme, (NHP) Builder Emmanuel Hangerior said the NHP initiative since 1996 has engaged over 1,500 building contractors and over 150,00 and 55,000 direct and indirect jobs had been created respectively.  In a goodwill message His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Bello OFR, the Emir of Gusau , thanked President Buhari for bringing the project to his domain ...

History As President Buhari Commissions Seven Legacy Projects on Tuesday Following through on his administration’s determination to upgrade and expand the nation’s stock of infrastructure, President Muhammadu Buhari will (tomorrow) Tuesday, commission seven legacy projects completed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing across the country. Comprising three major Bridges, three Federal Secretariats and a Road, the historic event will be headlined by the Second Niger Bridge which was conceptualized in 2005. In 2014, there was an attempt to begin the project through Public Private Partnership (PPP) but this was not successful. The construction began in 2016 with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF). Others are the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue to link Benue to Nasarawa State and the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State while the Road project is the completed Section of the over 200 kilometres of Kano-Kaduna Dual Carriage Expressway and three new Federal Secretariats. The first of the Federal Secretariats at Awka is located at Executive Business District Layout, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State and is situated on a 5.106 Hectares of land. The project was first awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry of Works and Housing on 14th July, 2022. The Secretariat has a total of 498 Office Space, a Conference Hall, four Committee Rooms, an Exhibition Hall, a Banking Hall, a Post Office and befitting Reception. In addition, the Secretariat has lift facilities, well laid out parking spaces and drainages, staff canteen, fire hydrant and other vital facilities. The second, Federal Secretariat Gusau, Zamfara State is located at Unguwan Dan Lawan, off Sokoto By-Pass Road, Gusau, Zamfara State. The project is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded also on 9th but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022. The third to be commissioned is the Federal Secretariat Yenagoa, which is located at Alamieyeseigha Road, in Bayelsa State.  It is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022. It would be recalled that President Buhari commissioned a fourth one, the Federal Secretariat Lafia, located at Bukar Sidi along Jos Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State in February this year. All nation's media stations are implored to stay tuned for the historic commissioning. ...

Fashola Unveils Business Process Automation of Certificates of Occupancy for Federal Lands The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, has unveiled the Business Process Automation of Certificate of Occupancy (eCofO) for Federal Lands. The event took place at the Ministry's Conference room, Mabushi, Abuja. Fashola, in his keynote address, said that the initiative was another layer and level of technological advancement in the country and   urged the ministry to sustain and maintain it to the expected next level. He explained that manual processing of application for and signing of C.of.O which used to be cumbersome and time - consuming would stop with the introduction of this digital platform, there by ending the era of carrying several  bags of files of C of O for manual endorsement at home even on weekends. "Our digital platform is meant to make life better, the thing that used to take three months will now be available in 24 hours. I, as the head of the Ministry, will stop carrying Ghana most go filled with C of O’s from Abuja to Lagos or my house, I can now sign many of them on the system within some hours. I think that's where Nigeria as the biggest black Nation should be." He remarked. The Minister also revealed that about 2,276 files have been digitalized. In his remarks, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Folorunso Esan, said that the project was awarded on February 17, 2022 and commended   the Ministry for the successful implementation of the initiative. He confirmed that the project will boost public consumption and also enable easy payments. The Head of Department and Director, Lands & Housing Development, Mr. Felix Appah, said that the process will enthrone transparency in the activities of land certification and ownership which will greatly serve as legal collateral to such land owners in accessing loans. Accordingly, Mr. Appah listed its benefits to government as; improving efficiency in registration, prevents the issuance of counterfeit C of O, increase revenue to government, having a central digital repository for all document, reduce process time for C.of.O applications, digital archiving with index, Reduce storage and printing costs amongst others. In addition, Nigeria, implementing an electronic land titling is in line with international best practices in land administration. Highlight of the event was presentation of C.of.O to some of the recipients. ...